Bizarre speed camera law will not be enforced in Humberside Police area
SAFER ROADS HUMBER GROUP ‘PROACTIVELY PROMOTES SHARING OF CAMERA LOCATIONS’
SAFER Roads Humber has confirmed people in northern Lincolnshire will not be fined for sharing the whereabouts of speed cameras on social media.
In a bizarre statement last week, North Wales Police advised motorists in Wales could be fined up to £1,000, or even jailed, for posting the locations of speed or “safety cameras” on social media, with the intention of warning others.
The force claimed “publicising the locations of speed traps hampers the good work that staff and officers do to reduce speeding motorists” and could lead to prosecution.
Safer Roads Humber, who partner with Humberside Police, said it proactively promotes sharing its speed camera locations and motorists will only face a fine if they are caught purposely blocking or tampering with camera equipment.
The local organisation has stressed that other forces may interpret the law differently but people in the Humberside Police force area need not worry.
Ruth Gore, of Safer Roads Humber, said: “Safer Roads Humber proactively promotes the enforcement schedule on our website to help drivers make sensible speed choices.
“We encourage the media and individuals to share this information, whilst being aware that this is our minimum amount of enforcement and that we can visit any of the 260 safety camera sites at any time.
In addition, Humberside Police can enforce the speed limit, on any road, at any time.
Our enforcement officers are designated ‘Police Support Officers’ by the
Chief Constable of Humberside Police, and any person who assaults, resists or wilfully obstructs a designated Police Support Officer in the execution of their duty commits an offence.
“If a person deliberately blocks a safety camera operator from undertaking enforcement activities this becomes an obstruction offence and so they could be in breach of Section 46 of the Police Reform Act 2002.
“We would also like to remind people that damage to or interference with our enforcement equipment may result in a criminal investigation.”
The issue has divided opinion, with some agreeing with the stance of the North Wales Police and others labelling the fining policy a way to make money.
One social media user took to Facebook to say: “The idea of a speed camera is to reduce risk, and not to collect revenue, so surely people been alerted and thus folks reducing speed is exactly what is supposed to happen. Lower speed=less risk?”
Another echoed this sentiment and said: “By warning people you are actually assisting the cops to slow traffic, thought that was the whole idea! Or is it just proof that it’s a money-making scheme?”
Others did not necessarily think the policy was unusual. Someone else added: “This isn’t new! It’s always been an offence to alert people about this sort of thing.
“Used to be flashing your headlights - now we live in a different age. But honestly, there’s signs that tell you how fast you can go anyway. Just follow them and you don’t have to worry about where they are!”